Tips for Writing Suspense

Hook The Audience.

Begin with the mystery or in the middle of the action. Descriptions of places and people comes later.

Don’t explain everything.

We only know what the character knows. If she hears a sound outside, is petrified and can’t investigate, then we too have no idea what is going on. Too much detail – an 'information dump' – kills suspense.

Setting.

A creepy setting leads naturally to a creepy story. Think about where you might make the action happen.

Pacing.

Keep the story rattling along, but allow regular ‘breathing’ times for readers. Reveal information a little at a time, not all at once. Keep the reader following to find out what happens.

Red herrings.

These are false, but believable clues that lead to dead ends. Too many are annoying, but a few – where the character and the reader are misled – are good.

Time is short.

Crank up the urgency. The hero must act within a short time frame or all will be lost.

End chapters on a cliffhanger. This is easy to do if you write a scene, then cut it in the middle. That cut becomes the chapter end. Readers should be eager to turn the page.

Show don’t tell.

We read, therefore we are moderately intelligent. Flatter us. Let us into the story using the human senses, body language, feelings, tone of voice etc.

Create a villain that is a real match for the hero.

The danger must be real.

Never make it easy for your character.

Throw dilemmas and complications at her constantly.

Be unpredictable.